SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Doctor of Philosophy: Physical Sciences: Computer Science

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
23398	Doctor of Philosophy: Physical Sciences: Computer Science
ORIGINATOR
University of North West
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree	Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences		Physical Sciences
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	240	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 10	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of the PhD/DSc qualification is to provide South Africa, Southern Africa and Africa with a significant number of graduates with highly specialized knowledge, advanced research skills, and specialized applied competence in a specific field of natural sciences. The qualification will also provide career and employment opportunities particularly in academic and research institutions/laboratories for personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

To be admitted to this programme, a student should normally have a MSc degree in the field of specialization or equivalent qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Exit Level Outcomes:

1. Competence in collecting, analysing and evaluating critically existing knowledge in a specialised field in natural sciences and present it logically.
2. Competence in identifying deficiencies in existing knowledge and formulating a research problem that will create new knowledge.
3. Competence in developing a research technique for solving a research problem.
4. Competence in utilising highly advanced scientific metods for conducting the research to solve scientific problems.
5. Competence in interpreting the results obtained, reorganising their significance and presenting them in a thesis and also orally.

Specific Outcomes:

1.1 Competence in extracting relevant information from various media, including electronic media.
1.2 Competence in organizing information logically and presenting it in a thesis.

2.1 Competence in comprehending thoroughly existing knowledge and identifying areas where further knowledge is required.
2.2 Competence in defining sharply a research problem that can be solved with the facilities available.

3.1 Competence in identifying clearly the equipment and other resources available and developing and testing a technique/method that can give valid results

4.1 Competence in the ability to use sophisticated instruments/techniques

5.1 Competence in organizing and interpreting the results and recognizing their significance
5.2 Competence in presenting the results in a thesis and also orally.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1.1.1 Ability to conduct literature search using advanced electronic media.
1.1.2 Ability to synthesize extracted relevant information.
1.1.3 Ability to apply knowledge of synthesized extracted relevant information in a given situation.

1.2.1 Ability to utilise advanced scientific methods/techniques in organising information logically.
1.2.2 Ability to present organised information in a thesis.
1.2.3 Ability to communicate effectively logically organised information to the scientific community at large nationally and internationally.

2.1.1 Ability to apply comprehended existing knowledge in scientific problem solving.
2.1.2 Ability to utilise comprehended existing knowledge in identified appropriate areas.

2.2.1 Ability to conceptualise a scientific research problem in an area of interest.
2.2.2 Ability to formulate advanced procedures in solving scientific problems.

3.1.1 Ability to identify available equipment and other resources to be used for research problem solving.
3.1.2 Ability to develop a technique/method that could be utilised in validating research results.
3.1.3 Ability to tests a technique/method used to validate results during research problem solving.

4.1.1 Ability to apply advanced knowledge in solving scientific problems.
4.1.2 Ability to utilise highly advanced scientific methods during the research process.
4.1.3 Ability to use sophisticated instruments/techniques in research problem solving.

5.1.1 Ability to display advanced research skills in organising information.
5.1.2 Ability to utilise advanced knowledge and electronic media to interpreting result and recognising their significance.

5.2.1 Ability to present organised information and results in a thesis and orally.
5.2.2 Ability to communicate effectively organised information to the scientific community nationally and internationally.
5.2.3 Ability to contribute proactively to a scientific body of knowledge through networking, collaboration and partnership.

Integrated assessment:

The qualification is by research and this is not applicable as assessment mode will be by thesis.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

A person with PhD/DSc qualification will be able to pursue a Post Doctoral degree in any specialized scientific field.

MODERATION OPTIONS

All modules are taught and moderated by experienced academic staff. The final award of the PhD/DSc degree will be made after appropriate assessment by both internal and external examiners.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

This will be in accordance with the criteria set by the Higher Education Quality Committee of South Africa. The external assessors will be from well-established Universities in South Africa.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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